Cult of Luna: Vertikal (Density, 1/29/13)
Swedish post-metal band Cult of Luna only debuted the official video for album closer “Passing Through” last month, but it has already filmed a follow-up. And it might outdo the official video for sheer impressiveness and beauty.
Cult of Luna: Vertikal (Density, 1/29/13)
Swedish post-metal band Cult of Luna has made epic, sludgy soundscapes since 1998, and its brand-new album, Vertikal, is the genre at its peak.
The closing track, “Passing Through,” is a gentle, pensive finale, pondering the passage of time; its video, seen below, reflects the theme by visiting Sweden’s Säter hospital in sub-zero temperatures, presenting a snapshot of patients long since departed from what used to be the country’s largest mental hospital.
Hail! This being my first column for ALARM Press, I thought I’d dip into some overlooked summer releases to get the blood flowing.
Decrepit Birth: Polarity (Nuclear Blast)
First up is the third album from California’s Decrepit Birth, Polarity. This album is a great example of the band’s name and the album’s title bringing to mind two completely different things. “Decrepit birth” sounds like a schlock-y gore-grind band, while “polarity” suggests spaced-out, progressive rock. Truth be told, it’s a bit of both.
Like Necrophagist before it, Decrepit Birth sticks to the old-school, growled, and slightly raspy styles of vocals in addition to its very complex, other-worldly music. This tactic is employed as a foundation: it doesn’t matter what Bill Robinson is growling about; it just matters that he does it consistently and with enough force to keep the album grounded throughout. With that being said, Robinson chooses his phrasing and placement of vocals well, allowing plenty of time for the rest of the band to do its thing, which really begins a minute and a half into Polarity, when there’s a Spanish-influenced guitar break out of nowhere.